RBC Blue Water Project Announces New Focus: Water Protection and Preservation in Towns and Cities

Deadline for 2013 Leadership and Community Action Grants Also Announced Today

TORONTO, December 6, 2012 - The RBC Blue Water Project today announced a new focus for 2013-14 grants, and will now support initiatives that help protect and preserve water in towns, cities and urbanized areas.

"Since 2007 we have supported more than 500 charitable organizations in Canada and around the world that protect watersheds and promote access to clean drinking water," said Gordon M. Nixon, RBC President and CEO. "We are proud of having supported so many organizations with our funding to date and are enthusiastic about now turning our attention to support a focused, urgent issue that is relevant to many of our clients and employees right where they live."

Most of the world's population now lives in towns and cities, and this is increasing the strain on water resources in these areas. Water quality and access are two important issues that need to be addressed as the population grows in urbanized centres. As such, RBC will fund programs in towns and cities with populations of more than 10,000 people that focus on:

Improving urban water quality;

Improving management of urban storm and rain water, such as building awareness about low-impact design or the use of natural systems to control storm or rain water;

The efficient use of water in towns and cities; or

Protecting and restoring urban waterways.

The new focus area applies to both Community Action Grants (CA $1,000 to $10,000) and Leadership Grants (CA$10,001 to $100,000). Organizations with projects in any of the countries and regions in which RBC is located, including Canada, the United States, Caribbean and the British Isles, may qualify for RBC funding. RBC has also streamlined the application process for both Leadership Grants and Community Action Grants.

Expressions of interest for RBC Blue Water Project 2013 Leadership Grants are being accepted until January 11, 2013. Applications for Community Action Grants are available online and are due on February 8, 2013.

RBC Blue Water ProjectLaunched in 2007, the RBC Blue Water Project is a 10-year global commitment of $50 million to help protect the world's most precious natural resource: fresh water. To date, RBC has pledged over $36 million to more than 500 charitable organizations in Canada and around the world that protect watersheds and promote access to clean drinking water, with an additional $6 million pledged to universities for water programs. In 2013-2014, the RBC Blue Water Project will focus on supporting initiatives that help protect and preserve water in towns, cities and urbanized areas. For further information, visit www/rbc.com/bluewater

About RBCRoyal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. We employ approximately 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 49 other countries. RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on the 2012 - 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations and one of the Best Workplaces in Canada.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2011, we contributed more than $98 million to causes worldwide through donations and community investments of more than $64 million, and $34 million in sponsorship of community events and national organizations.